Improvement in snow-plows for railroads



S. L. DENNEY.

Car-Track Clearer.

No. 39,894, Patented-Sept. 15, 1863,

wjitne sses= g Inventor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

SAMUEL L. DENNEY, OF GHRISTIANA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SNOW-FLOWS FOR. RAILROADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,894., dated September 15, 1863; antedated July 1 8, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. DENNEY, of Christiana, Lancaster county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Snow-Flows and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification.

The drawing of the device is a side elevation.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the drawing.

The combined movements of my improved snow-plow so operate together that the snow is elevated, divided, and compressed clear of the track, thereby making an unobstructed passage for the locomotive and its train of cars, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

I construct my snow-plow by making a substantial truck-frame of about the dimen sions of that of an ordinary four-Wheeled car.

To this truck I secure timbers, which 'ex tend forward and approach close to the track at their front end, thus forming the incline plane B, the front of which is carried upon a pair of small wheels. The back or main portion of the machine is carried upon four of ordinary-sized car-wheels.

I construct a very substantial frame-work upon the truck portion of the machine,in which I place the two vertical compressingcylinders G 0, the lower ends of whose shafts rest in steps or shoes, the upper ends being confined in suitable bearing-boxes. Near to the lower ends of said shafts R R beveled gears are secured, which mosh into corresponding gears secured to one of the main axles. Thus it will be seen that when the machine is in motion the cylinders O 0 will be in motion also. In front of the cylinders on 'the inclined plane is placed the divider E,

which corresponds in height with the cylinders, and is of equal width at its base and top, by which means the snow is made to strike against the cylinders in a line vertical to their shafts. The divider E extends to near the front end of the inclined plane B at its base, while its sharp edge (indicated by the letter H) extends back in an oblique direction, and, being slightly curved, the line of its surface is thus made so sharp that the snow Will not adhere to its surface. The gearing which gives motion to the cylinders O O is so proportioned that their peripheries move at a speed corresponding with that of the machine on the track, whereby the snow is compressed upon the same principle as when a cylinder is laid horizontally and rolled over-the top of the snow.

I The machine, when constructed in the manner above specified,is adapted best to cleaning the snow from a single-track road, where .an equal amount of the snow may be placed to each side of the track; but where, as is the case on a double-track road, nearly all of the snow should be placed to the outside of each track.

In ada 'iting my machine to double-track roads, I place the divider E near to the edge of the incline plane, and the front cylinder about the center of the machine. The other cylinder is placed over the hindmost axle, from which it receives its motion. The periphery of the front cylinder is very near in line with the center of the rear cylinder, whereby the snowwill be compressed from the center to the circumference of the front cylinder. Then, striking the rear cylinder, it is compressed in like manner from its center to its circumference, thus placing it clear of the track.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, use, and employment of the vertical cylinders G (J, in combination with the divider E, for the purposes and in the manner substantially herein set forth.

2. Constructing the divider E of an equal width at its base and top, and in height corresponding to that of the cylinders O O at its rear end, extending it forward near to the front end of theinclineplaneB in straightlines, at its base slightly curving upward, thereby presenting a sharp oblique edge to divide the snow as it ascends the incline plane B, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

The above specification of my new and useful improvements in snow-plows signed and witnessed this 21st day of November, A. D. 1861.

SAM UEL L. DENNEY.

WVitnesses S. SLoKoM, MARY W. SLoKoM. 

